View full sizeStaff photo by Phil DunnLee
Williams, right, with his attorney in Superior Court in Salem Friday.
Williams has been charged in the brutal stabbing death of Jeremy Huff in
Quinton Township.

SALEM —
Murder suspect Lee Williams Jr. is now scheduled to go to trial at the
end of this month after he rejected a five-year plea deal offered by
prosecutors in Superior Court Friday.

Williams, 20, originally of
Salem but now listed as having a Millville address, is facing a
first-degree murder charge along with a slew of related charges in
connection with the brutal Aug. 14, 2008 stabbing of Jeremy Huff.

Williams
and Jerry M. Loatman Jr., 21, of New Market Street in Salem were
allegedly paid $50 by Brooks G. Harris, 28, of Old Kings Highway in
Pilesgrove to commit the murder.

Police said revenge may have been a motive because Huff, 26, had been romantically involved with Harris' estranged wife.

Huff was a stabbed more than 40 times in his Quinton Township home along Route 49. Before he died, Huff managed to call 911.

The
plea deal offered to Williams by the state included a lesser charge of
second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. The plea deal
called for a sentence of five years in state prison with parole
eligibility offered after 85 percent of term is served.

Superior
Court Judge Timothy G. Farrell said Williams would be granted time
served, which is now more than three years, leaving him with less then a
year on his sentence before he became eligible for parole.

The victim: Jeremy Huff was stabbed to death in August 2008 in his Quinton Township home.

Williams would become eligible for parole after four years three months and one day.

For the record, Farrell asked Williams multiple times in court Friday if he was clear on the choices presented to him.

“Mr.
Williams, do you understand that after today you will no be able to
take advantage of this (plea deal) offer?” Farrell asked. “You can’t
change your mind once we all leave the court room today.”

Williams nodded his head responding “yes.”

Though Williams turned down the plea Friday morning he can still accept an “open plea.”

“After
today you can enter a plea, but it would be what is called an open
plea,” said Farrell. “Which you would plead guilty to all charge and be
sentenced by a judge.”

Williams’’ full list of charges includes murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy, theft, and burglary.

If
Williams accepted an open plea or was found guilty on all charges by a
jury of his peers he would get a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in
prison.

Though Williams’ Attorney Brian Muhlbaier did not
provide any official comment on the case, he did state his client chose
not to take the plea deal because he is not guilty.

Jury
selection for Williams trial began Tuesday, but Farrell said he allowed
“counsel time to discuss potential offers based on the fact the state’s
key witness is not likely to testify during trial.”